Lot details
Registration No: DKC 237
Frame No: TL3428
Engine No: 1/T80/5984
cc: 350
MOT Expiry Date: T.B.A.

Val Page had joined Triumph as chief engineer in 1932 and quickly recognised the need to overhaul the existing Triumph range. The first new Triumph to result from his efforts was a parallel 647cc twin. This was quickly followed by a range of middleweight singles, all sharing a common basic design and offered in 250 over head valve form, 350 side and over head valve configurations and 493cc forms. The over head valve models all featured a twin port head and all utilised a dry sump lubrication system and a gear driven mag-dyno mounted to the rear of the engine. Although the new range was soundly designed they lacked the flair needed to compete in an increasingly competitive market with slow sales compounding the company's already perilous financial position. This ultimately led to the motorcycle manufacturing element of the Triumph company being sold to Jack Sangster in 1936, the bicycle side of the business having already been sold, thus leaving the car side to continue as a separate entity. Jack Sangster promptly installed his chief designer from Ariel, Edward Turner, with instructions to return Triumph to profit. Turner recognised the soundness of the Page designed singles and used them as a basis to create a range of glamorous sporting machines that would capture the public's imagination. Using the existing machines as a base, the revised models were fitted with the sports specification engine and a high level exhaust system. The engine cases were polished and the petrol tanks were chromed and painted with silver sheen panels lined in blue, endowing the motorcycles with startling looks. Instead of the bewildering number code used to identify their predecessors the new Triumphs were given names that reflected their character and hinted at their performance, with the models being announced to the world as the Tiger 70, 80 and 90 for the 250, 350 and 500 variants respectively. To describe the models reception as a success would be something of an understatement.
The 350cc Tiger 80 offered is an older restoration that has now mellowed to an attractive patina. Described by the vendor as being in good running order it displays the handsome looks that have made these machines so desirable and is offered with a Swansea V5C.